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But—

"Then we won't reveal who we are?"

Xie Jin had never intended to make a fuss. He had only planned to tell the county magistrate who he was and have him send word to the Xie Family at once. He hadn't expected that they wouldn't even get to see him. People like them couldn't simply walk in and meet the county magistrate.

Xie Jin said:

"A mere registrar wouldn't dare act so brazenly on his own. I suspect the magistrate is exploiting the people too. I want to find evidence of what he's done."

Shen Lantang grew excited. "I get it! An incognito investigation! A county magistrate wouldn't dare be this reckless without someone behind him. There must be a whole group profiting from it. We'll find them, bring them down, and give the local people some peace."

Xie Jin had thought of that, but he hadn't expected Shen Lantang to see so far into it. "You're perceptive," he said.

Shen Lantang waved it off. Nothing special. When you spot one cockroach, there are already thousands hiding out of sight. Of course, they couldn't catch them all, and no one would let them. Catching a few of the visible ones would do.

After Xie Jin and Shen Lantang discussed it, they returned. Shen Lantang gave a graceful bow and said, "Thank you, Madam, for stepping in to help my husband at the County Office today. We've talked it over, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, we'd be grateful to stay in your care until word comes from home."

Madam Zhao had thought Xie Jin looked far from ordinary, which was one reason she had been willing to help. Now that she had met Shen Lantang and seen her poised, gracious bearing, she liked her even more. She